Defender of Democracy Awards

 

Since 1996, PGA has held the Defender of Democracy Awards in conjunction with its Annual Parliamentary Forum. The Defender of Democracy Award is presented to individuals who, through their own commitment and active engagement, have made significant progress in strengthening democracy and democratic practices.

 

At PGA’s 29th Annual Forum on Poverty and Unemployment: The Root Causes of Migration, held in Abuja, Nigeria in November 2007, PGA honored H.E. Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, and Senator Ken Nnamani, former Senate President of Nigeria. PGA honored President Johnson Sirleaf for her life-long work in promoting justice and democracy and Senator Nnamani for his work in promoting good governance and democratic principles.

 

Previous Recipients of PGA’s Defender of Democracy Awards

 

The Hon. Kristina Svensson,

Swedish Ambassador to Zambia/Malawi (1996)

 

The Hon. Léonce Ngendakumana,

President, National Assembly; MP (Burundi)(1996)

 

H.E. Arthur N.R. Robinson,

President, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (1997)

 

H.E. Jan P. Pronk,

Minister of Development Cooperation, (The Netherlands) (1997)

 

Prof. M. Cherif Bassiouni,

Director, International Criminal Justice & Weapons Control Center, DePaul University (1998)

 

Ms. Charity Kaluki Ngilu, MP (Kenya)

On behalf of the Multi-Party Group in Kenya (1998)

 

The Late Hon. Bella S. Abzug,* 

Co-founder and President, Women’s Environment and Development Organization (1998)

Awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Mr. John Hume, MEP

(Northern Ireland) (1999)

 

Dr. Hanan Mikhail-Ashrawi,

Founder of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (1999)

 

Sra. Estela Barnes de Carlotto, (Argentina)

On behalf of Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (2000)

 

H.E. Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon, (Mexico)

President (2000)

 

Mr. Dipak Patel (Zambia)

MP, Former PGA member (2001)

 

H.E. Kim Dae-jung (Republicof Korea)

President (2001)

 

H.E. Mr. Philippe Kirsch (Canada)

Ambassador of Canda to the Kingdom of Sweden (2002)

 

Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan (2002)

 

H.E. Mr. George Papandreou (Greece)

Foreign Minister (2003)

 

Dr. Chee Soon Juan (Singapore)

Secretary-General, Singapore Democratic Party (2003)

 

Rt. Hon. Helen Clark (New Zealand)

Prime Minister (2004)

 

Mrs. Mary Robinson (Ireland)

President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative (2005)

Former President of Ireland

Former United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights

 

Dr. Nafis Sadik (Pakistan)

Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General and Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (2006)

 

Mrs. Yukika Sohma (Japan)

Humanitarian and Human Rights Activist (2006)